Ronald C. Cambre

2000 Inductee into American Mining Hall of Fame

Ronald Cambre is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He also attended the Harvard Business School Program for Management Development. Cambre began his professional career with the International Paper Company doing technical work in its pulp and paper operation. In 1964, he joined Freeport-McMoRan and worked with that organization for 30 years. During this period, he was involved in many of the businesses that Freeport operated, including its sulfur, phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers, as well as its nickel, cobalt, uranium, gold, and copper units. He served as Operations Manager Advisory Council, Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and W. R. Grace & Co. He is also Vice Chairman of the National Mining Association and past Chairman of the Gold Institute of Queensland Nickel, a Freeport joint venture in Australia, during the mid-seventies. In 1986, Freeport spun off Freeport-McMoRan Resource Partners and appointed Cambre as first president and CEO of the new entity. In 1993, Freeport acquired Rio Tinto Minera, the Spanish mining and smelter group, and named him as Chairman.

Cambre retired from Freeport-McMoRan in late 1993 and joined Newmont as Vice Chairman and CEO. He has served as Chairman since 1995. Under his leadership, Newmont has grown to be the second largest gold producer in the world, with operations in the U.S., Peru, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan. Newmont is recognized as a technical and environmental leader in the mining industry and supports a worldwide exploration effort.

Cambre is a member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He serves on numerous boards including the World Gold Council, the Louisiana State University College of Engineering.

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